Present disclosure relates to a system for programming and verifying backplane controller chip firmware on target backplane controller chips. The system includes a backplane controller chip validation board. In certain embodiments, the backplane controller chip validation board includes: (a) a program/verify/validate controller chip, (b) one or more backplane controller chip sockets for installing one or more target backplane controller chips, and (c) a backplane simulator. The program/verify/validate controller chip includes backplane controller chip firmware verification software, a USB interface, and a software storage. The backplane simulator is used to simulate functions of drives, LEDs, and other devices of a backplane for verifying all functions of backplane controller chip firmware. The backplane controller chip validation board is in communication with a host computer, and host computer has a user interface, a backplane controller chip programming and verifying software, a USB interface, and a software storage to store backplane controller chip firmware.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. A computer-implemented method for programming and verifying backplane controller chip firmware on a plurality of target backplane controller chips, comprising one or more of following operations: connecting a backplane controller chip validation board to a host computer with a Universal Serial Bus (USB) communication link, wherein the backplane controller chip validation board has a first chip having a backplane controller chip firmware verification software, a USB interface, a memory, and a software storage; a plurality of target backplane controller chip sockets for installing the plurality of target backplane controller chips; and a backplane simulator configured to simulate functions of drives, light-emitting diodes (LEDs), and other devices of the backplane for verifying functions of the backplane controller chip firmware; installing at least one target backplane controller chip to be validated on one of a plurality of target backplane controller chip sockets; receiving backplane controller chip firmware from the host computer; programming the target backplane controller chip to be validated with the backplane controller chip firmware from the host computer; configuring the backplane simulator for verifying the functions of the target backplane controller chip firmware; sending verifying commands and control data from the host computer to the backplane controller chip validation board to validate the functions of the backplane controller chip firmware programmed on the target backplane controller chip; and sending results of the verification back to the host computer.
A computer-controlled method programs and verifies firmware on backplane controller chips. A validation board connects to a host computer via USB. The validation board contains: (1) a "first chip" (a microcontroller) running firmware verification software, (2) sockets to hold the backplane controller chips being tested, and (3) a backplane simulator. The simulator mimics drives, LEDs, and other backplane devices to test the controller chips' firmware. The method involves: plugging a target controller chip into a socket, receiving firmware from the host computer, programming the firmware onto the target chip, configuring the backplane simulator, sending validation commands from the host to the validation board, and sending test results back to the host.
2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the host computer comprises a user interface configured for a user to input validating commands and control data for validating functionalities of the plurality of target backplane controller chips; a backplane controller chip validation software stored in a memory; a USB interface; a USB communication link; and a software storage configured to store backplane controller chip firmware.
The method of programming and verifying firmware on backplane controller chips, uses a host computer that includes a user interface for entering validation commands, validation software, a USB interface, a USB communication link, and storage for the backplane controller chip firmware. This interface lets a user input commands and control data to test the functionality of the target backplane controller chips. The backplane controller chip validation software is stored in memory to be executed.
3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , wherein the backplane controller chip validation board is powered by the USB communication link between the USB interface of the host computer and the USB interface of the first chip of the backplane controller chip validation board.
The method of programming and verifying firmware on backplane controller chips powers the backplane controller chip validation board using the USB connection between the host computer's USB interface and the "first chip's" USB interface on the validation board. This eliminates the need for a separate power supply for the validation board.
4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , wherein the backplane controller chip validation board is configured to perform one or more of following operations: receiving programming and verifying commands, control data, and the backplane controller chip firmware from backplane controller chip programming and verifying software of the host computer; programming the received backplane controller chip firmware into the software storage of the target backplane controller chip; validating the backplane controller chip firmware in the software storage of the target backplane controller chip; programming the target backplane controller chip with the validated backplane controller chip firmware; verifying the functions of the backplane controller chip firmware programmed on the target backplane controller chip; and sending verifying results back to the host computer over the USB interface of the first chip of the backplane controller chip validation board.
The method of programming and verifying firmware on backplane controller chips configures the validation board to: receive programming commands, control data, and firmware from the host computer's validation software; program the received firmware into the target controller chip's storage; validate the firmware in the target chip's storage; program the target chip with the validated firmware; verify the functionality of the programmed firmware; and send test results back to the host computer via the "first chip's" USB interface.
5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4 , wherein the programming and verifying commands and the control data are configured in accordance with the Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) Enclosure Services (SES) specification to instruct the target backplane controller chip to control the functions of drives, LEDs, and other devices of the backplane simulated by the backplane simulator on the backplane controller chip validation board.
The method of programming and verifying firmware on backplane controller chips configures the programming commands and control data, using the SCSI Enclosure Services (SES) standard, to instruct the target backplane controller chip to control simulated drives, LEDs, and other backplane devices using the backplane simulator on the validation board. This allows testing of the chip's ability to manage a backplane's physical devices.
6. The computer-implemented method of claim 4 , wherein the programming and verifying commands and the control data are configured in accordance with the Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) specification to instruct the target backplane controller chip to control the functions of drives, LEDs, and other devices of the backplane simulated by the backplane simulator on the backplane controller chip validation board.
The method of programming and verifying firmware on backplane controller chips configures the programming commands and control data, using the Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) standard, to instruct the target backplane controller chip to control simulated drives, LEDs, and other backplane devices using the backplane simulator on the validation board. This enables testing of the chip's remote management capabilities.
7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6 , wherein the IPMI programming and verifying commands comprises a plurality of extended OEM IPMI commands.
The method of programming and verifying firmware on backplane controller chips using IPMI, the IPMI programming and verifying commands include custom OEM extensions to standard IPMI commands. This allows for testing of proprietary or extended functionality of the backplane controller chip.
8. The computer-implemented method of claim 4 , wherein the programming and verifying commands and the control data are configured in accordance with the Serial General-Purpose Input/Output (SGPIO) specification to instruct the target backplane controller chip to control the functions of drives, LEDs, and other devices of the backplane simulated by the backplane simulator on the backplane controller chip validation board.
The method of programming and verifying firmware on backplane controller chips configures the programming commands and control data, using the Serial General-Purpose Input/Output (SGPIO) standard, to instruct the target backplane controller chip to control simulated drives, LEDs, and other backplane devices using the backplane simulator on the validation board. This allows testing of the chip's low-level hardware control capabilities.
9. The computer-implemented method of claim 4 , wherein the received backplane controller chip firmware is programmed into the software storage of the target backplane controller chip on the backplane controller chip validation board after the backplane controller chip ID, firmware revision, checksum and last page of the received backplane controller chip firmware are verified.
The method of programming and verifying firmware on backplane controller chips programs the received firmware into the target chip's storage only after verifying the chip's ID, firmware revision, checksum, and the last page of the firmware. This ensures the integrity and compatibility of the firmware before programming.
10. The computer-implemented method of claim 4 , wherein each of functions of the backplane controller chip firmware is validated by performing one or more of following operations: receiving, at the USB interface of the backplane controller chip validation board, programming and verifying commands and control data for the functionality of the backplane controller chip firmware from the backplane controller chip programming and verifying software of the host computer; transferring the programming and verifying commands and control data to the target backplane controller chip; executing the programming and verifying commands by the first chip of the backplane controller chip validation board to verify the functions of the target backplane controller chip firmware; receiving feedback from the backplane simulator in response to the programming and verifying commands; sending the feedback from the backplane simulator in response to the programming and verifying commands by the first chip of the backplane controller chip validation board to the host computer through the USB interface of the first chip of the backplane controller chip validation board; and determining whether the function verifications of the target backplane controller chip firmware is successful by the host computer.
The method of programming and verifying firmware on backplane controller chips validates each function of the chip's firmware by: receiving function-specific commands and data at the validation board's USB interface; transferring those commands to the target chip; the validation board's "first chip" executes commands to verify the target chip's firmware functions; receiving feedback from the backplane simulator, sending that feedback to the host computer through the board's USB interface, and determining whether function verification was successful on the host computer.
11. A non-transitory computer storage medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a first chip of a backplane controller chip validation board, cause the first chip to perform one or more of following operations: establishing communication between the backplane controller chip validation board and a host computer with a Universal Serial Bus (USB) communication link, wherein the backplane controller chip validation board having a first chip having a backplane controller chip firmware verification software, a USB interface, a memory, and a software storage; a plurality of target backplane controller chip sockets for installing the plurality of target backplane controller chips; and a backplane simulator configured to simulate functions of drives, light-emitting diodes (LEDs), and other devices of the backplane for verifying functions of backplane controller chip firmware; installing at least one target backplane controller chip on one of a plurality of target backplane controller chip sockets on the backplane controller chip validation board; receiving backplane controller chip firmware from the host computer; programming the target backplane controller chip with the backplane controller chip firmware from the host computer; configuring the backplane simulator for verifying the functions of the target backplane controller chip firmware; sending verifying commands and control data from the host computer to the backplane controller chip validation board to validate the functions of the backplane controller chip firmware programmed on the software storage of the target backplane controller chip; and sending results of verification report from the backplane controller chip validation board to the host computer.
A non-transitory computer storage medium holds instructions that, when run on the "first chip" of a backplane controller chip validation board, cause the chip to: establish a USB connection to a host computer; install a target controller chip in a socket; receive firmware from the host; program the firmware onto the target chip; configure a backplane simulator; send validation commands from the host to validate the firmware programmed on the target chip's storage; and send test results back to the host. The validation board includes the "first chip" (microcontroller), sockets, and a backplane simulator to mimic drives, LEDs, etc.
12. The non-transitory computer storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the host computer comprises a user interface configured for a user to input validating commands and control data for validating functionalities of the plurality of target backplane controller chips; a backplane controller chip programming and verifying software stored in a memory; a USB interface; a USB communication link; and a software storage configured to store backplane controller chip firmware.
The non-transitory computer storage medium of validating backplane controller chips, the host computer includes a user interface for entering validation commands, validation software, a USB interface, a USB communication link, and storage for the backplane controller chip firmware. The user interface is configured for a user to input validation commands and control data for validating functionalities of the target backplane controller chips. The backplane controller chip programming and verifying software is stored in memory.
13. The non-transitory computer storage medium of claim 12 , wherein the backplane controller chip validation board is configured to perform one or more of following operations: receiving programming and verifying commands, control data, and the backplane controller chip firmware from backplane controller chip programming and verifying software of the host computer; programming the received backplane controller chip firmware into the software storage of the target backplane controller chip; validating the backplane controller chip firmware in the software storage of the target backplane controller chip; programming the target backplane controller chip with the validated backplane controller chip firmware; verifying the functions of the backplane controller chip firmware programmed on the target backplane controller chip; and sending verifying results back to the host computer over the USB interface of the first chip of the backplane controller chip validation board.
The non-transitory computer storage medium validating backplane controller chips configures the validation board to: receive programming commands, control data, and firmware from the host's validation software; program the received firmware into the target chip's storage; validate the firmware in the target chip's storage; program the target chip with the validated firmware; verify the functionality of the programmed firmware; and send test results back to the host computer via the board's "first chip's" USB interface.
14. The non-transitory computer storage medium of claim 12 , wherein each of functions of the backplane controller chip firmware is validated by performing one or more of following operations: receiving, at USB interface of the first chip of the backplane controller chip validation board, programming and verifying commands and control data for the functionality of the backplane controller chip firmware from the backplane controller chip programming and verifying software of the host computer; transferring the programming and verifying commands and control data to the target backplane controller chip; executing the programming and verifying commands by the first chip of the backplane controller chip validation board to verify function of the target backplane controller chip firmware; receiving feedback from the backplane simulator in response to the programming and verifying commands; sending the feedback from the backplane simulator in response to the programming and verifying commands by the first chip of the backplane controller chip validation board to the host computer through the USB interface of the first chip of the backplane controller chip validation board; and determining whether the function verifications of the target backplane controller chip firmware is successful by the host computer.
The non-transitory computer storage medium validating backplane controller chips validates each function of the chip's firmware by: receiving function-specific commands and data at the validation board's USB interface; transferring those commands to the target chip; the validation board's "first chip" executes commands to verify the target chip's firmware functions; receiving feedback from the backplane simulator, sending that feedback to the host computer through the board's USB interface, and determining whether function verification was successful on the host computer.
15. An apparatus for programming and verifying backplane controller chip firmware on a plurality of target backplane controller chips, comprising: a backplane controller chip validation board, including: a first chip executing a backplane controller chip firmware verification software; a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface; a memory; a software storage; a plurality of target backplane controller chip sockets for installing the plurality of target backplane controller chips; and a backplane simulator configured to simulate functions of drives, light-emitting diodes (LEDs), and other devices of the backplane for verifying functions of the backplane controller chip firmware; wherein the first chip is coupled to the memory and is configured to: connect the backplane controller chip validation board to a host computer with a USB communication link; install at least one target backplane controller chip to be validated on one of a plurality of target backplane controller chip sockets; receive backplane controller chip firmware from the host computer; program the at least one target backplane controller chip to be validated with the backplane controller chip firmware from the host computer; configure the backplane simulator for verifying the functions of the at least one target backplane controller chip firmware; receive, at the backplane controller chip validation board, verifying commands and control data from the host computer to validate the functions of the backplane controller chip firmware programmed on the at least one target backplane controller chip; and send results of the verification back to the host computer.
An apparatus for programming and verifying backplane controller chip firmware on backplane controller chips has a validation board containing: a "first chip" (microcontroller) executing firmware verification software; a USB interface; memory; storage; sockets to hold the target controller chips; and a backplane simulator to mimic drives, LEDs, etc. The "first chip" connects to the host via USB, installs a target chip, receives firmware, programs the target chip, configures the simulator, receives validation commands from the host, and sends test results back to the host.
16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the host computer comprises a user interface configured for a user to input validating commands and control data for validating functionalities of the plurality of target backplane controller chips; a backplane controller chip validation software stored in a memory; a USB interface; a USB communication link; and a software storage configured to store backplane controller chip firmware.
The apparatus for programming and verifying backplane controller chip firmware on backplane controller chips contains a host computer with a user interface to input validation commands, validation software, a USB interface and communication link, and firmware storage.
17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the backplane controller chip validation board is powered by the USB communication link between the USB interface of the host computer and the USB interface of the first chip of the backplane controller chip validation board.
The apparatus for programming and verifying backplane controller chip firmware on backplane controller chips powers the validation board through the USB connection between the host computer and the "first chip" on the board.
18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the first chip is further configured to: receive programming and verifying commands, control data, and the backplane controller chip firmware from backplane controller chip programming and verifying software of the host computer; program the received backplane controller chip firmware into the software storage of the target backplane controller chip; validate the backplane controller chip firmware in the software storage of the target backplane controller chip; program the target backplane controller chip with the validated backplane controller chip firmware; verify the functions of the backplane controller chip firmware programmed on the target backplane controller chip; and send verifying results back to the host computer over the USB interface of the first chip of the backplane controller chip validation board.
The apparatus for programming and verifying backplane controller chip firmware on backplane controller chips configures the "first chip" to receive commands, data, and firmware from the host's validation software; program the received firmware into the target chip's storage; validate the firmware in the target chip's storage; program the target chip with the validated firmware; verify the functionality of the programmed firmware; and send test results back to the host via the "first chip's" USB interface.
19. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the programming and verifying commands and the control data are configured in accordance with the Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) Enclosure Services (SES) specification to instruct the at least one target backplane controller chip to control the functions of drives, LEDs, and other devices of the backplane simulated by the backplane simulator on the backplane controller chip validation board.
The apparatus for programming and verifying backplane controller chip firmware on backplane controller chips configures the programming commands and control data to use the SCSI Enclosure Services (SES) specification to control the simulated drives, LEDs, and other backplane devices on the validation board.
20. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the programming and verifying commands and the control data are configured in accordance with the Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) specification to instruct the target backplane controller chip to control the functions of drives, LEDs, and other devices of the backplane simulated by the backplane simulator on the backplane controller chip validation board.
The apparatus for programming and verifying backplane controller chip firmware on backplane controller chips configures the programming commands and control data to use the Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) specification to control the simulated drives, LEDs, and other backplane devices on the validation board.
21. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the IPMI programming and verifying commands comprises a plurality of extended OEM IPMI commands.
The apparatus for programming and verifying backplane controller chip firmware on backplane controller chips uses IPMI programming and verifying commands, including custom OEM extensions to standard IPMI commands.
22. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the programming and verifying commands and the control data are configured in accordance with the Serial General-Purpose Input/Output (SGPIO) specification to instruct the target backplane controller chip to control the functions of drives, LEDs, and other devices of the backplane simulated by the backplane simulator on the backplane controller chip validation board.
The apparatus for programming and verifying backplane controller chip firmware on backplane controller chips configures the programming commands and control data to use the Serial General-Purpose Input/Output (SGPIO) specification to control the simulated drives, LEDs, and other backplane devices on the validation board.
23. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the received backplane controller chip firmware is programmed into the software storage of the target backplane controller chip on the backplane controller chip validation board after the backplane controller chip ID, firmware revision, checksum and last page of the received backplane controller chip firmware are verified.
The apparatus for programming and verifying backplane controller chip firmware on backplane controller chips programs the received firmware into the target chip's storage only after verifying the chip's ID, firmware revision, checksum, and last page of the firmware.
24. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein to validate functions of the backplane controller chip firmware, the first chip is further configured to: receive, at the USB interface of the backplane controller chip validation board, programming and verifying commands and control data for the functionality of the backplane controller chip firmware from the backplane controller chip programming and verifying software of the host computer; transfer the programming and verifying commands and control data to the target backplane controller chip; execute the programming and verifying commands by the first chip of the backplane controller chip validation board to verify the functions of the target backplane controller chip firmware; receive feedback from the backplane simulator in response to the programming and verifying commands; send the feedback from the backplane simulator in response to the programming and verifying commands by the first chip of the backplane controller chip validation board to the host computer through the USB interface of the first chip of the backplane controller chip validation board; or determine whether the function verifications of the target backplane controller chip firmware is successful by the host computer.
The apparatus for programming and verifying backplane controller chip firmware on backplane controller chips validates firmware functions by having the "first chip" receive function-specific commands and data from the host; transfer those commands to the target chip; execute commands to verify the firmware functions; receive feedback from the simulator; send that feedback to the host, and allow the host to determine verification success.
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October 7, 2013
June 27, 2017
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